Coastguard sinks two boats bought for £1 after rescue

The Faithful, pictured after a refit several years ago, is now a wreck off the Devon coast after being sold for £1 when it became 'abandoned' in 2024

A £1 dream of a life on the ocean ended up underwater when two boats were sunk by authorities after drifting for days in shipping lanes.

There is a growing issue with abandoned boats, which are left for councils and harbours to try to deal with - some offering these vessels for sale for small sums or for free.

The maiden voyage of bargain hunters, who bought a 60 tonne boat for £1, ended when they had to be rescued by the RNLI, with coastguards taking the "unusual" decision to sink the vessels in a "controlled operation".

Sold by Brixham Marina for £1, the Faithful, formerly a fishing boat and AirBnB, came into difficulty 30 miles (48.2km) into its journey on 7 October.

What happened next would cause maritime authorities a headache that would last for several days - a large boat drifting in Devon's shipping lanes, without power or crew.

In what sources said was a "highly irregular" decision, on 11 October, the coastguard authorised and tasked a salvage company to sink the vessel, which was carrying two tonnes of diesel.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said its decision was due to the "unseaworthy condition of the former fishing vessel and self-declared inability of the owner to carry out recovery".

Fishing industry experts said they had not been informed of the wreck's exact location and warned it was potentially a "massive maritime hazard".

Fisherman, Richard Fowler, is among those concerned about the location of the wreck, which those in the industry said had not been widely circulated

Brixham fisherman Richard Fowler said trawlers nets, which run along the seabed, could "catch" on the large wreck, possibly causing damage or the capsize and sinking of the fishing boat.

"[If] they lose the boat, there's a possibility of three, four, five lives being lost," he said.

"Why haven't we been informed?"

The MCA said the vessels "were sunk at a depth not requiring a Notice to Mariners" and it had shared the area where the boats had gone down but "the exact position on the seabed is yet to be confirmed".

It said a navigation warning had been issued online and to the local harbour.

While the BBC has been unable to trace the new owners, locals suggested the boats were bound for Ireland.

At the time the Faithful left port it was pictured with the second smaller yacht tied to its side.

The BBC tried to speak to the person who took the image but was unable to identify them.

A picture showing the Faithful leaving Brixham for the final time with a yacht tied to its side on 7 October was posted in a local Facebook group

The coastguard said the location of the wreck was about 20 miles (32km) south-west of Salcombe, "away from sensitive marine areas and sub-sea infrastructure".

Fishers said exact locations of hazards were normally communicated with the industry for safety reasons but even the approximate position was causing alarm.

A navigation warning had been broadcast on a maritime safety website since the sinking, the MCA said.

Beshlie Pool, executive officer of South Devon and Channel Shellfishermen, said it was "extremely important that all information about obstacles and hazards at sea are communicated swiftly, accurately and widely to prevent risks to safety".

Trawler owner Michael Sharp said he had never known the coastguard to sink a boat.

"There's places it [Faithful] should have been towed to, to sink clear of fishing ground," he added.

The Faithful left Brixham Marina on 7 October after being bought with another smaller yacht

Chris Graham, from the Marine Conservation Society, said sinking a vessel carrying diesel would have been a "last resort", which would likely have an environmental impact despite it being a small amount compared with oil spills.

"It's only a matter of time - a ticking time bomb - before that fuel gets out of the vessel... you'll get that fuel into the water column, onto the seabed, onto the surface, where they'll be affecting birds and fish, and other life," he said.

Describing the case as "unusual", he added: "We want to really minimise and stop environmental impact from human activities such as this."

The coastguard said there "was no significant pollution" at the time and it used aircraft and counter pollution satellite surveillance to monitor for pollution.

It said where necessary it would take action.

It added it was "vital" boat owners took the conditions of their boats seriously, adding: "Unseaworthy vessels drifting without power or crew into busy waters have the potential to pose a serious danger to life and other vessels."

Mr Fowler was still concerned about the coastguard's course of action: "It's bad enough the fact that they've sunk it, they've had plenty of time to do other things."

The BBC understands the coastguard had been trying to find a port to take in the boats but were not met with enthusiasm due to the associated responsibility and financial burden given to harbour masters left to dispose of abandoned boats with no insurance.

The Faithful had previously been used as a short-term holiday let and most recently a live-aboard boat, until the former owner died.

As a result, Brixham Marina said it was left to deal with the boat with no money in the former owner's estate to pay the bills.

The 58ft (17.5m) boat was possibly an attractive purchase on the surface, but the advert had warned of the need for "substantial repairs".

There is a growing graveyard of abandoned boats blighting coastal communities and it is a problem that councils and harbours struggle to deal with.

Tor Bay harbour master Nick Burns said ports like his continued to face "significant challenges" from abandoned vessels as ports are often left paying for responsible disposal.

"While the idea of acquiring an old or abandoned boat at a low price may seem appealing, buyers should be aware that such purchases often come with significant hidden liabilities," he said.

For those who may romanticise about a boat-owning life, he strongly advised conducting "thorough due diligence".

"Ownership of a neglected vessel can quickly become a financial and legal burden, far outweighing the initial cost," he added.